Power transmission



Feb. 21, 1939. T. B. DOE 2,148,262

POWER TRANSMISSION Filed April 15, "1937 5 Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTOR THOMAS B. D05

ATTORNEY Feb.21,1939. TBD E 2 ,l48,262

POWER TRANSMISSION Filed April 15, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR THOMAS B. DOE

wzm

ATTORNEY T. B. DOE

Feb. 21, 1939.

POWER TRANSMISSTON Filed April 15, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INENTOR THOMAS B. DOE

ATTORN EY Feb. 21, 1939. v T. B DOE 2,148,262"

POWER TRANSMISSION Filed April 15, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 mE l' 1 INVENTOR Two/ms .8. D05

ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1939. T. B. DOE

\ POWER TRANSMISSION Filed April 15, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet s Patented Feb. 21, 1939 I UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE POWER- TRAN SMIS SION Thomas BQDoe, New York, N. Y., assignor to The Waterbury Tool Company, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application April 15, 1937 Serial No. 137,079

14 Claims. (Cl. 60-53) This invention relates, generally, to power erable to use an A. C. supply with the result that transmissions and the invention has reference, it has been exceedingly diihcult, if not impossible, more particularly, to a novel fluid or hydraulic to obtain the desired speed variation necessary pressure operated and controlled drive system for the eflicient operation of electric motor driven 5' adapted to automatically drive aload device chain yp hoists Owing the inherent nature through a predetermined cycle of operation. of A. C. motors to ope ate at constant y Such a power transmission is adapted for use ehronous p and as a result, attempts have with many diflerent load devices ith which it been made to operate some chain hoists continis desirable to be able to control the acceleration uousiy at s t p Which s not y fi and deceleration precisely for driving the device 'Cieht because e necessarily low pe d 0f 01 with varying velocity through a predetermined eration, but is hard on the attendants since they cycle of operation, must load and unload the articles while the con- For example, the present invention is particy hoist is moving, d t s ust he done ularly suitable for hoists or conveyors for trans- Without undue l t g 0r jarring 0f t e fragile l5 porting articles from one point to another. If erticles- 15 the articles to be transported are of a fragile or The principal l e 0f the Present invention delicate natur h th t damage is y to is to provide a novel hoist or chain conveyor drive occur if they are subjected to jars and jolts, it that is Operated and controlled y flu ybecomes desirable to provide a conveyor drive dreulie pressure, thereby insuring smooth, quiet which will insure not only that the conveyor itself and vibrationless p a i n of the hoist or con- 20 does not cause any jarring of the art e l d veyor driven thereby, the said novel drive when thereon but also that the conveyor maybe loaded applied to heist Serving, p the loading of and unloaded by the attendants without requiran article on to the receiving end of the teming a high degree of dexterity t insure against porarily stationary hoist and the removal of an damage occurring when placing articles th article from the delivery end thereof, provided an 25 andremoving them therefrom hil ai t i i article has reached the hoist delivery end, firstly, a a onably high speed of-transportation on th to automatically start and accelerate the hoist conveyor. or conveyor chain with a maximum feasible ac- These and other considerations make it desircoloration f a short p secondly, o driv able to provide a conveyor driv hi h may b the hoist or conveyor at a substantially constant controlled to operate, for example, a chain type Speed for a short interval. and y. c conveyor, at varying speeds and ith varying erate the hoist with a maximum feasible decelaccelerations and decelerations under precise and eration to a p, the hoist eheih having m ved positive control. Thus, for example, in some cona distance equal to the space between successive veyor installations it is desirable to operate the. chain flights during such period of motion, where- 35 conveyor intermittently with a period of rest upon the operation or cycle is again u matically for loading at one end and unloading at the other repeated, and so on as long as desired, the hoist end, and then upon the completion of loading moving intermittently and the articles being and unloading to move the conveyor through the loaded and removed during the periods when the 4 distance required to bring an article into place hoist is stationary. Alter the Second 40 atthe unloading station and an empty flight into constantspeed step in the operating cycle may place at the loading station. It is desirable to so be omitted when it is possible to use the full control the conveyor drive as to make this movemovement for acceleration and deceleration. ment start'and stop with the maximum acceler- More specifically it is an object to provide a ation and deceleration, respectively, consistent cy li Control y m r a h t driv or other 45 with the previously mentioned limitations repower transmission apparatus embodying an acgarding jarring of the articles on the conveyor. celeration-deceleration control means driven Heretoiore, chain type conveyors or hoists have with the hoist and operable independently therelargely-been driven by electric motors, either diof to initiate a cycle of operation, such control rectly orthrough reduction gearing, and in order means including a unitary valve device partaking 50 to obtain the wide variations .in speed required of both reciprocatory and rotary motion. to operate such hoists efficiently, it has been nec- It is also an object to provide sucha control 'e'ssary, even when using a D. C. supply, to employ means incorporating means for maintaining the a complicated and easily deranged system of elechoist in a predetermined position of rest after i tric rheostats and control units. It is far prefthe completion of a cycle of movement and pref- I erably including means for controlling a by-pass across the transmission circuit as well as means for controlling the displacement of the pump portion of the power transmission in the event of displacement of the conveyor from the predeterpanying drawings wherein a preferred form of' the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing the hydraulic circuits incorporated in a preferred form of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view partly in section showing the mounting of the conveyor driving and.controlling mechanism on the loading end of the conveyor. Y

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross section of a control valve forming part of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on line 6-6 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 5 showing the parts in a diflerent position.

Fig. 7 is 'a cross section on line 'l-I of Fig. 12.

Fig. 8 is a cross section on line 8-8 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 9 is a cross section on line 88 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is .a cross section on line Iii-l0 of Fig. 3. Fig. 11 is a cross section on line I ll l of Fig. 3.

Fig. 12 is a side view partially in section on line l2-l2 of Fig.8.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic cross section of the control valve illustrating in Fig. 3 showing the parts in a second position. a

on line 14- Fig. 14 is a cross section of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a cross section on line 16-" of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a cross section on line l8-|6 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 1'7 is a cross section on line l'l-l'l of Fig. 13.

Fig. 18 is a cross section on line l8l8 of Fig. 13. 1

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic cross section of the control valve illustrated in Fig. 3 showing the parts in a third position.

Fig. 20 isa cross section line 2020 Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a Fig.19.

Fig. 22 is a' Fig. 19.

Fig. 23' is a Fig. 19.

Fig. 24' is a Fig. 19.

Fig. 25 is'a sectional view of a variable displacement pump forming part of the present invention.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 25 the conveyor driving mechanism includes a variable displacement pump [0 which is shown as of the wellknown Waterbury construction comprising a revolving cylinder barrel l2 within which pistons l4 are reciprocable to varying degrees depending upon the angular position of a tilting box i6 which is adjustable about trunnions l8. The

on of cross section on line 2l-2l of cross section on line 22-22 of on line 28-28 of line 2424 cross section cross section on of fluid is brought into the cylinder barrel through a valve plate 28 from a supply conduit 22 and is pumped to a delivery conduit 24. The shaft 26 of the pump it) may be driven by a suitable prime mover such as an electric motor 28. The motor 28 also drives an auxiliary pump 29 which serves to supply fluid under pressure for control purposes. The displacement of the pump I8 is under the control of a fluid motor 3|, later to be described.

Conduits 22 and 24 lead to a fixed displacement fluid motor 30 disposed on the hoist casing 32 and having a shaft 34 connected by a coupling 36 to a gear box 38. The motor 30 may also be of the Waterbury construction. The coupling 36 drives a worm 40 meshing with a worm gear 42 which is keyed to a sprocket shaft 44 carrying the driving sprocket, not shown, for the conveyor chain. Also keyed to the shaft 44 is a timing gear pinion 46 meshing with a timing gear 48 which drives through bevel gearing 58 a shaft 52 for operating a control valve 54. The ratio of gearing 46, 48'and 50 is such that the shaft 62 makes one revolution for each flight or cycle of movement of the hoist chain.

The construction of the main control valve is illustrated in Figs. 3 through 12. Figs. 1- and 13 through 24 are diagrammatic only and depart from the actual construction in some particulars for the sake of cleamess. Portions of the mechanism appear in more than one place in Fig. 1 and several conduits are shown as pipes whereas they are actually short drilled passages. In Figs. 13 and 19 the circumferential locations of all ports in the valve body have been shown as if in the plane of cross section. The control valve 54 comprises an automatically operated portion which functions to control the displacement of the pump l0 for acceleration-deceleration control and for centering the conveyor between cycles and which also controls a by-pass between the conduits 22 and 24 to assist in centering. The valve 54 also'includes a manually operable portion, the function of which is to change all connections necessary to be changed when it is desired to reverse the direction of movement of the conveyor.

The automatically operated portion of the having a small bore 58 in its upper portion and a .larger bore 68 in its lower portion. The upper end of bore 58 is closed by a cap 59. Slidably and rotatably mounted in the bores 68 and 68 is a movable valve element 62, the bottom wall 84 of which is splined at.66 to a stub shaft 68 which is detachably connected to the shaft 52 (Fig. 2). Secured to the wall 64 is a cam 10, the outline of which is symmetrical and appears in Figs. 13 and 19. The cam 10 cooperates with a roller 12 pivoted on a stud 14 secured to the body 56. The body 56 is detachably mounted on the gear casing 88 by a flange 16. The lower wall 84 and the adjacent portion of cam I4 are pierced by apertures 18 (Fig. 10).

Extending through the interior of the member 62 is a bore 80 which may be connected either to control fluid pressure from the auxiliary pump 28 or to exhaust, for the purposeof raising the valve member 62 upwardly from the position 11- lustrated in Fig. 3 independently of any movement of the stub shaft 68. The bore 80 communicates by a radial bore 82 (Fig. 4) with a recess 84 which cooperates with a port 86 formed in the body 56. The vertical height of the recess 84 is sufficient so that it is in communication with the port 86 regardless of vertical movements of the valve member 62. The circumferential width of the recess 84 is such that it will be cut off from the port 86 after a" small rotation of thevalve member 62 from the position of Miwm Fig. 4. It will be seen that if pressure fluid is admitted to the port 86 that this pressure will be transmitted through conduits 82 and 88 and through apertures 18 to exert a lifting force on the valve member 62, causing the same to rise to its upper limit of movement.

The valve member 62 may also be rotated by the stub shaft 68 and when sorotated, the cam .18 determines the lowest position which it is" possible for the valve member 62 to reach at any particular angular position thereof. Thus, when the valve member is rotated to the position of Fig. 13, the cam 18 holds the valve 62- in its upper position regardless of whether fluid pressure exists beneath the valve 62 or not.

Referring now to Fig. 11, the member 62 is provided with two recesses 86 and 88 symmetrically positioned on the opposite side of the valve member 62 from the recess 84. The recesses 88 and 98 communicate by bores 92 and 84 with the bore 88. The vertical height of the recesses 88 (see Fig. 3) is great enough so that they may communicate with ports 96 and 88 irrespective of the vertical position of the valve member 62. The circumferential width of the recesses 88 and 98 and their angular disposition are such that the recess 98 opens to the port 88 after something over 180 of clockwise rotation from the position of Fig. 11 and cuts off before 360. The recess 88 cooperates with the port 96 in a simi lar manner on counterclockwise rotation. The port 98 is normally connected to exhaust durin clockwise'rotation of the valve member 62 while the port 86 is blocked. During counterclockwise rotation the port 88 is blocked while the port 86 is connected to exhaust. Thus, the recess 98 insures that the space beneath the valve member 62 is drained during the time that the cam 18 permits the valve member 62 to drop during clockwise rotation and. the recess 88 performs the same function for counterclockwise rotation. In either case, the recess which is not effective connects the bore 88 to exhaust during the interval while the valve member 62 is maintained in its highest position by the cam 18.

' The control of the admission of pressure fluid to the port 86 is accomplished by an interlock circuit (see Fig. 1) comprising a conduit I88 which is constantly in communication with the' pressure side of the auxiliary pump 23 through a conduit I82 and across the bore 58 of the valve 54. Conduit I88 leads to a port I84 in a manually operable reverse valve. I86, 9. pressure drop valve I88 being incorporated in the line I88 at port I84 for the purpose of maintaining pressure in the conduits I88 and I82 when the line beyond the pressure drop valve I88 may be connected to exhaust. The movable member III) of the reverse valve I86 has a recess II2 connecting the port I84 with a'port H4 in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 'I which is the position when the reverse valve is set to hoist. Port II4 communicates by a conduit II6 with a lower trip interlock valve II8 which is operable by a lower trip lever I28 adjacent the conveyor chain I22. when an article such as I24 is placed on the conveyor at the loading end thereof, the trip I28 is depressed opening the valve H8 and permitting pressure fluid to i -pass to a conduit I26 leading to the port 86.

The valve I86 also includes a port I 28 which,

in the hoist position, connects with a transverse bore I38 which communicates by a longitudinal bore I32 with the exhaust side of the system in- A dicated diagrammatically in Fig. 1 by the conduit necting to the chamber I62.

I34 leading to the expansion tank I36. In the reverse position when the valve I86 is set for lowering movement of the conveyor, the port I28 is connected to the port I84 while the port H4 is connected to the other end of the bore I38. The port I28 is connected by a conduit I38 with an upper trip interlock valve I48 which is controlled by an upper trip lever I42 actuated by the delivery of an article, such as I44, at the unloading end of the conveyor. When the article I 44 is removed, the valve I48 closes, thus blocking off the exhaust connection to the conduit I26 which is established through a branch conduit I46 whenever the valve I48 is open.

It will thus be seen that with the reverse valve I86 set for hoist, the control fluid pressure can be transmitted to theport 86 only when both the valve H8 is openand the valve I48 is closed. Thus, the initial lifting of the valve member 62 by fluid pressure is conditioned upon both the presence'of an article, such as I24, at the loading station and the absence of an article, such as I44, at the unloading station. During lowering operation of the hoist, the converse is true so that the valve member 62 can not lift until an article such as I44 has been positioned on the conveyor at the upper end thereof and an article such as I 24 has been removed from the conveyor at the lower end thereof.

Referring again to Figs. 3 through 8, the body 56 includes a port I48 to which the fluid delivered by the auxiliary pump 29 is delivered from conduit I82. The port I48 communicates with an annular groove I58 formed in the body 56 and to which the conduit I88 is connected. The valve member 62 is provided with recesses I52 and I54 (see Fig. 8) which are connected by annular grooves I56 adjacent the top of the recesses I52 and I54 and of less vertical extent than the latter. The shorter of the grooves I56 communicates by a bore I58 with a longitudinal bore I68 opening at its upper end into the upper end of the bore 58 for the purpose of transmitting control fluid pressure to the upper face of the valve member 62 in all positions of the valve 62. The space between the small bore 58 and the large bore 68 of the body 56 is connected to the exhaust side of the system through a hole I6I and a chamber I62 formed in the body 56 and connected to the expansion tank I36 through a passage I 64.

The valve 62 is adapted to control acceleration and deceleration of the conveyor by connecting the portions of the fluid motor 3| to either con trol fluid pressure or exhaust. For this purpose an annular groove I66 is formed on the member 62 and, in the position illustrated in Fig. 3, connects a port I68 (see Fig. 12) with the exhaustside of the system by a short bore I18 con- The recesses I52 and I54 and the annular groves I56 control com munication between the pressure inlet port I48 and a port I12. A land I14 is formed on the member 62 between the groove I66 and the recesses I52 and I54. A'land I16 is also formed below the recesses I52 and I54 and extends upwardly to the grooves I56 between the recesses I52 and I54. Below the land I16, the member 62 is reduced at I18 to connect the port I12 with exhaust when the member 62 is lifted upwardly to the limit of its movement. The ports I68 and I12 lead to the body of the reverse valve I86 where they communicate with longitudinal bores I88 and I82 (Fig. 5). Radial bores I84 and I86 connect the bores I88 and I82 to the interior bore I88 of the valve I06. Recesses I80 and I62are adapted to form a six-way valve. connecting the ports I84 and I86 either with ports I84 and I06 respectively or with ports I88 and 200 respectively.

Ports I04 and I98 are connected by pipes 202 and 204 to the inner ends of small cylinders 206 and 208 in the control motor 8|. The ports. I86 and 200 are connected bypipes 2I0 and 2I2 to the outer ends of larger cylinders 2I4 and 2I6 formed in the control motor 8|. The tilting box I6 is connected by a pivoting and sliding connection 2 I8 to a rod 220 carrying pistons 222 and 224 slidable in the cylinders 206 and 208. Loosely abutting the pistons 222 and 224 and slidable in the cylinders 2 I4 and 2 I 6 are larger auxiliary pistons 226 and 228. The shoulders 230 and 282 e are so positioned that when the piston 228 abuts the shoulder 230, as in the drawings, the tilting box is in a small stroke in the hoisting direction and when the piston 226 abuts the shoulder 232 when'the valve is in the positionshown'in Fig.

3. The bore 234 communicates with port 200 in the hoist position of the valve shown in Fig. 5 while the bore 236 communicates with the port I86 in the lowering position illustrated in Fig. 6. Four short radial bores 242, 244, 246 and 248 connect with the longitudinal bore I32 and other similar bores 250, each of which extends from end to end of the reverse valve movable member 252 and connects withthe exhaust chamber I62. The bore 242 is adapted to register with a port 254 and bore 248 is adapted to register with the port I88 in the position of Fig. 5, while the bore 244 registers with the port I94 and the bore 246 registers with a port 256 in the position of Fig. 6. The ports 254 and 256 are connected by conduits 258 and 260 with the ports 88 and 96, respectively, for the purpose of blocking ofi the port 86 and connecting the port 98 to exhaust in hoist position and for establishing the opposite connection in lowering position.

Branch conduits 262 and 264 are formed in the valve body 56 to extend downwardly along the side of the large bore 60 and connect with conduits 2I0 and H2, respectively. Bore 60 is provided with a separate liner 266 having nearly semi-annular grooves 268 and 210 (Fig. 9) formed on its outer surface and communicating with the passages 262 and 264. Four centering ports 212, 214, 216 and 218 communicate with the grooves 268 and 210. The large diameter portion of the valve member 62 is provided with an exhaust centering port 280 communicating by a bore 282 with the space between the bores 58 and 60. The port 260 in the position shown in Fig. 9 lies mid-way between the ports 216 and 218 and is adapted to open to one or the other upon rotation of the valve member 62 in either direction away from neutral or rest position- Also formed on the large portion of the valve member 62 are two small pressure ports 284 and 286 which communicate by a radial bore 288 with the longitudinal bore I60 which is subject at'all times to control fluid pressure. The centering ports 280, 284 and 286 are adapted to move out of register with their cooperating ports 212, 214, 216 and 218 whenever the valve member 62 is lifted out of the position shown in Fig. 3.

Below the plane of the centering ports. the

large portion of the valve 82 is provided witha notch 290 (Fig. 10) which normally closes communication between a pressure port 282 and an exhaust port 294. The port 204 is connected by a branch conduit 286 with the low pressure side 22 of the main power circuit, while the port 282 is connected through a shuttle valve 288 and branch conduit 800 to the high pressure side 24 is formed in a lateral bore 802 closed by end plugs 804 and 306. Thelatter has a long stem 808 forming a stop for the shuttle valve 288. The opposite ends of the bore 802 are in communica of the main fluid circuit. The shuttle valve-288 tion by transverse bores 3I0 and 8I2 with the j branch conduits 262 and 28.4, respectively. The shuttle valve 288 is closed whenever pressure exists in conduit 262, while it is opened when pressure exists in conduit 264.

In operation, the motor 28 being started, the pump I0 is caused to operate, delivering fluid into the conduit 24 and withdrawing fluid from the conduit 22 in accordance with the'setting of the tilting box I6. The auxiliary pump'28 supplies fluid for control purposes through the de-. livery conduit I 02, a. relief valve 814 permitting fluid in excess of control requirements to pass to the exhaust side of the system. Between normal cycles of operation of the conveyor 82 the tilting box normally rests in the position illustrated in the drawings which is slightly to the right of neutral or zero displacement position; that is, the pump I0 is in a small stroke tending to drive the conveyor in the hoisting direction. The small been placed on theflowr trip I20 and an article such as I44 has been removed from the upper end of the co'nveyor, the lower trip valve I I8 is opened and the upper trip valve I40 is closed. with the reverse valve I08 set to hoist, control fluid pressure will be admitted to the interlock circuit from the auxiliary pump through conduit I02, port I48, groove I50, conduit I00, pressure drop valve I08. port- I04, recess II2, port II4, conduit II8, valve H8 and conduit I26 to the port 88. The upper trip valve I40 closes off the drain path for control fluid pressure through conduit I88, port I 28 and conduits I30 and I82.

In rest position the movable member 82 lies in the position shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 8 through 12, being maintained in this position by control fluid pressure constantly present in the upper end of the bore 58 through conduits I08and I88 (Fig. 8). Upon admission of control fluid Pressure to the port 86, this pressure is exerted through the bore to the space beneath the movable member 62 to lift the member 82 upwardly to the limit of its movement. In this position the cam 10 is considerably spaced from its follower roller 12. The upward shift of the valve member 62 connects port I88 with control fluid pressure from the groove I60 and connects port I12 with the exhaust side of the system through the space between bores 88 and 80 and through passages I8I, I82, and I84. Control fluid thus passes from port I 88 to the port I84 of the reverse valve I08 and through recess I80, port I84, and conduit 202 to the small cylinder 288. The piston 224 moves to the right in Fig. 1 carrying with it the free piston 228. Fluid from the large cylinder 2 is exhausted through conduit 2I0, port I96 of the reverse valve, recess I92, port I86, and port I12 of the main control valve to exhaust. The tilting box I6 is thus moved into stroke in a hoisting direction at a speed determined by the volume of fluid delivered by the auxiliary pump 29.

The greatly increased volume of fluid. delivered by the pump I is too. great for passage through the small by-pass 290 so that the fluid motor 30 is caused to operate, thus driving the conveyor with a rate of acceleration determined by the velocity of the piston 224. As the fluid motor 30 starts to move, the valve member 62 is rotated therewith through the shaft 68 and splined connection 66. The initial rotation of the valve member 62 cuts off recess 84 from the port 86 thereby trapping the fluid below the valve member 62 and effectively preventing anydownward movement thereof, regardless of any possible change in the position of interlock valves I I8 and I40 Assuming the driving connections between the conveyor and the control valve 54 to be such that the movable member 62 rotates clockwise in Fig. 11 during hoisting operation, it will be seen that the recess 88 will open to the port 98 after something over 90 of rotation. Prior to this occurrence, however, the cam 10 has rotated sufficiently -to bring its highest part on to the roller 12 thus positively holding the valve member 62 in its highest position even though the space beneath the member 62 is connected to drain through port 98, conduit 258, port254 of the reverse valve, port 242, and bore 250. Upon something over 180 of rotation, the recess 90 opens to the port 98 connecting the space below the valve member 62 with exhaust. In the interval while the recess 90 is in communication with port 98, the cam 10 travels from a position where its highest part is on the roller 12 to a position where its lowest portion is on the roller 12. The valve member 62 thus moves downwardly under the urge of fluid pressure exerted in the upper end of the bore 58.

The connections of acceleration control ports I68 and I12 in the main control valve are thus reversed so that port I68 is connected to exhaust through port I10 leading to chamber I62, and port I12 is connected to control fluid pressure because the recess I52 is opposite the port I12. Port I12 is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 forclearness, whereas it actually lies on the left side of line 33 in Fig. 8 (see Fig. 12). The same is true of ports I68 and I10. Control fluid pressure is thus transmitted from port I12 through port I86 of the reverse. valve, recess I92, port I96, and conduit 2I0 to the large cylinder 2I4. The cylinder 208 is connected to exhaust through conduit 202, port I94, recess I90, port I84, and port I68. The pistons 226 and 224 are thus caused to travel to the left reducing the stroke of the pump I0 until the piston 222 abuts the piston 228,

as in the position shown in the drawings. The piston 228 at this time is normally maintained against the shoulder 230by control fluid pressure transmitted from conduit I02 through the valve ports 240, conduit 238, conduit 234, port 200 and conduit 2I2 and trapped there by the land I14 closing off the ports 240 just before the valve member 62 reaches its lowest position. During the deceleration of the conveyor which takes place as the tilting box I6 moves to main stroke position, the valve member 62 continues to turn and the recess I52 cuts off from port I12, thus trapping fluid in the cylinder 2 I4 also.

As the conveyor approaches rest position, the

centering ports 280, 284, and 286 (Fig. 9) come into operation, the exhaust port 280 connecting with the stationary port 218 and the pressure port 286 connecting with the stationary port 214. Pressure fluid is thus admitted to the cylinder 2I6 through groove 210, and conduit 264 to conduit 2I2 while the cylinder 2I4 is connected to exhaust through conduit 2I0, conduit 262 and groove 268. Inasmuch as the piston 228 is already against the shoulder 230, no movement of the tilting box I6 takes place at this occurrence. Continued travel of the conveyor and valve 62 into rest position brings the centering valve to cut-off position at both pressure and exhaust ports and opens the by-pass notch 290 sufflciently to pass all the fluid delivered by the pump I0 at minimum strokeposition. The gravity load of the articles I24, I44, etc., on the hoist chain constantly tend to back the hoist down; If this occurs the by-pass 290 is closed, permitting sufflcient pressure to build up in conduit 24 to raise the hoist back to its intended position of rest.

Under conditions when the conveyor is lightly loaded, the friction of the conveyor chain and its driving mechanism may be so great as to prevent back travel of the hoist under gravity load and the light load may also permit overtravel of the hoist at the end of a cycle. Such a condition is illustrated in Figs. 19 through 24 wherein the centering valve pressure port 284 is connected to stationary port 212, admitting control fluid pressure to cylinder 2I4 through groove 268, conduit 262 and conduit 2I0. Under these conditions the exhaust centering port 280 also opens to the stationary port 216, connecting the cylinder 2 I 6 to exhaust through groove 210, conduit 264, and conduit 2I2. The piston 226 is thus moved to the left in Fig. 1 against the shoulder 232, carrying the tilting box I6 past neutral position into a small stroke in the lowering direction. At the same time the shuttle valve 298 is shifted upwardly in Fig. 1 by the pressure exerted in conduit 262 and transmitted through conduit 3I2 and by the connection of conduit 3I0 with the exhaust pressure in conduit 264. The by-pass- 290 is thus closed so that the conveyor moves downwardly until the centering valve passes cut-oil? position and opens port 286'to port 214, and port 280 to port218. Thereupon the connections of cylinders 2I4 and 2I6 are reversed and shuttle valve 298 is opened so that the conveyor comes into rest position at a slower speed than formerly and centers as described in normal operation. As

soon as another article I24 is placed on the lower trip I20 and the delivered article I44 is removed from the unloading station, the interlock circuitis again rendered effective and the cycle of operation is repeated. The cylinder 2I6 is of somewhat larger diameter than cylinder 2I4 so that when the centering valve is cut off, any leakage into both cylinders equally will not move the tilting box out of minimum stroke position.

If it is desired to operate the conveyor to lower ,articles, the reverse valve I06 is turned to the position illustrated in 6. This operation reverses the connection of the interlock valves H8 and I40 to exhaust and to the control fluid conduit I00 so that the interlock circuit can be rendered effective only when both an article is present at the upper trip I42 and an article has been removed from the lower trip I20. The reversal of valve I06 also transposes the connections of the cylinders 206, 208, 2I4, and 2I6 with the main control valve 54 so that cylinders 206 and 2I6 are controlled in the same manner as were cylinders 208 and 2, respectively; Under these conditions the tilting box I! is moved into full lowering stroke to accelerate and returned to minimum lowering stroke to decelerate. The action and a unitary valve partaking of rotary and reciprocating movement and driven by said first fluid motor to control said second fluid motor, and fluid pressure operated means for moving of the entire mechanism is thus similar to that saidvalve to initiate a cycle of operation.

previously described except that the conveyor 5. In a fluid pressure operated power transtravels in the opposite direction. Also in lowermission system the combination of a fluid pump, ing operation the shuttle valve 298 is normally a fluid pressure motor, an article handling declosed as the conveyor appr st position vice driven by the motor, and means to control 80 that ve t a e 16 1 1 37 induced a each operation of the article handling device in intercycle and the conveyor is brought to rest by mittent cycles of movement with predetermined upward movement with the shuttle valve 298 open acceleration and deceleration, said means includand the by-pass 290 effective. i ing a unitary valve partaking of rotary and re- While the form of embodiment of the invention ciprocating movement, means coupling said valve as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, to rotate with the fluid motor, and cam means it is to be understood that other forms might be for controlling the reciprocating motion of the p all coming within the scope t claims valve in accordance with its rotary movement. which follow. 6. In a fluid pressure operated power trans- What is claimed is as follows: mission system the combination of a fluid pump,

1. In a fluid pressure operated power transa fluid pressure motor, an article handling device mission system the combination of a fluid pump, driven by the motor, and means to control opera fluid pressure motor, a member movable to ation of the article handling device in intercontrol the supply of fluid delivered from the mittent cycles of movement with predetermined pump to the motor, an article handling device acceleration and deceleration, said means includdriven by the motor, and means to control opering a unitary valve partaking of rotary and reation of the article handling device in intermitciprocating movement, means coupling said valve tent cycles of movement with predetermined acto rotate with the fluid motor, and cam means celeration and deceleration, said means includfor controlling the reciprocating motion of the ing a second fluid motor for operating said memvalve in accordance with its rotary movement,

her, and a unitary valve partaking of rotary and 'said valve being reciprocable at times independreciprocating movement and driven by said flrst ently of said cam. fluid motor to control said second fluid motor. '7. In a fluid pressure operated power system 2. In a fluid pressure operated power transthe combination of a reversible variable displacemission system the combination of a fluid pump, ment pump, a fluid pressure motor, continuously a fluid pressure motor, a member movable to conopen supply and return conduits connecting said trol the supply of fluid delivered from the pump pump and motor, a member movable to vary the to the motor, an article handling device driven displacement of said pump, a second fluid motor by the motor, and means to control operation for operating said member, and a unitary conoi. the article handling device in intermittent trol valve driven by said fi s motor having a.

40 cycles 01 movement with predetermined accelerportion adapted to control said second motor to ation and deceleration, said means including a impart a predetermined cycle of movement to second fluid motor for operating said member, said first motor said cycle including a period of and a unitary valve partaking of rotary and controlled acceleration and aperiod of controlled reciprocating movement and driven by said first deceleration.

fluid motor to control said secondfluid motor, 8. In a fluid pressure operated power system Said Valve n ludin a portion operable to control the combination of a reversible variable displace-, the supply 01' fluid to said first motor. between ment pump, a fluid pressure motor, continuously cycles. open supply and return conduits connecting said 3. In a fluid pressure operated power system pump and motor, a member movable to vary the so the combination of a reversible variable displacedisplacement of said pump, a second fluid motor ment pump, a fluid pressure motor, continuousfor operating said member, valve means operable y open supply and return conduits connecting by the first fluid motor for controlling the second said pump. and motor, a member movable to vary fluid motor to cause a cycle of movement of the the displacement of said pump, a second fluid first motor including a period of predetermined motor for operating said member, and a unitary; acceleration and a period of predetermined decontrol valve driven by said first motor having celeration, and by-pass means rendered eil'ective a portion adapted to control said second motor to at the end of a cycle fo y-D fluid impart a predetermined cycle of movement to livered by the pump whenever the first fluid said first motor, said cycle including a period of motor advances beyond a predetermined position.

00 controlled acceleration and a period of controlled 9. In a fluid pressure operated power transdeceleration, and having another portion adapted mission system the combination of a fluid pump, to control said second motor to bring said first a fluid pressure motor, a member movable to motor to a predetermined position of rest indevary the displacement of the pump, an art cle pendently oi overtravel or undertravel of the handling device driven by the motor, and means first motor at the end of a cycle. I to control operation of the article handling de- 4. In a fluid pressureoperated power transvice in intermittent cycles of movement with mission system the combination oi. a fluid pump, predetermined acceleration and deceleration, said a fluid pressure motor, a member movable to means including a second fluid motor for operatcontrol the supply of fluid delivered from the ing said member, valve means operable by the pump to the motor, an article handling device first fluid motor for controlling the second fluid driven by the motor, and means to control opermotor to cause a cy le of movement of the first ation of the article handling device in intermitmotor, d Y-D means e dered efiective at tent cycles of movement with predetermined acthe end of a cycle for by-passing fluid delivered celeration and deceleration, said means including by the pump whenever the first fluid motor ad.

, asecqnd fluid motor for operating said member, vances beyond a predetermined position.

and

10. In a fluid pressure operated power system the combination of a reversible variable displacepredetermined position of rest.

ii. In a fluid pressure operated power transmission system the combination of a fluid pump, a fluid premure motor, a member movable to vary the displacement oi the pump, an article handling device driven by the motor, and means to control operation of the article handling device in intermittent cycles of movement with predetermined acceleration and deceleration, said means including a second fluid motor tor operating said member, valve means operable by the first fluid motor for controlling the second fluid motor to causes cycle" of movement of the first motor, and valve means for controlling said secand motor to maintain the iirst motor in a predetermined position of rest.

12. In a fluid pressure operated power transmission system the combination oi a fluid pump, a fluid pressure motor, an article handling device drivm by the motor, and means to control operation of the article handling device in intermittent cycles of movement with predetermined acceleration and deceleration, said means including a unitary valve partaking of rotary and reciprocating movement and driven by said fluid motor to control the supply of fluid delivered by the pump to the motor.

18. In a fluid pressure operated power transmission system the combination of a fluid pump,

a fluid pressure motor, an article handling device driven by the motor, and means to control opera.- tion of the article handling device in intermittent cycles of movement with predetermined acceleration and deceleration, said means including a unitary valve partaking of rotary and reciprocating movement and driven by said fluid motor to control the supply of fluid delivered by the pump to the motor, said valve including a portion operable to control the supply of fluid to said motor between cycles. a

14. In a fluid pressure operated power transmission system the combination of a fluid pump, a fluid pressure motor, an article handling device driven by the motor, and means to control operation of the article handling device in intermittent cycles of movement with predetermined acceleration and deceleration, said means including a unitary valve partaking of rotary and reciprocating movement and driven by said fluid motor to control the supply of fluid delivered by the pump to the motor, and fluid pressure operated means for moving said valve to initiate a cycle of operation.

THOMAS E. DOE. 

